Idle lock for calculating machines



Oct. 29, 1935. J, v u c 2,018,933

IDLE LOOK FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed Oct. 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 29, 1935. J. A. v. TURCK 2,018,933

I IDLE LOCK FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed Oct. 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wot-3.29,!

UNITED s'rA'rEs cusses mm we: so: osncuna'rmo .loaephLvfilurokclllcageJll-mdmrtereit & .larrant Manufacturing lll.,aoorporationof mamosmsamasummmm iscnmwisss-im This invention in general to improvemsntsin ticular'reference to improvements in calculating machineaof theepower operated. key-responsive Wile. i. e. the type of calculating machines whereinpowersuchasanelectricmotor is provided to impart adding movement or accumulation in response to keydepression and in gig, amount determined by the particular key 'ihe object of the invention. broadly stated. is toinsureagainstoverloading of theelectric motor orotherpower sourcewith resultanterrorlnoperationh wbof'the calculating machine or damage to Another important obiect of the invention is the provision of a power driven calculator of multiph orderM-responsive the operatiomof whichwillbemechanicallycontrolledtoprevent manipulationof the keys or equivalent mocha powertothepowerdriveandpriortoaspeedoffil ration,v of such drive sufilcient to insure accurate actuation of the accumulator u m or until the power mechanism is in condition to "sustain the resulting load without danger of damage. 3 The instant embodiment of the invention hereq -inaiter to be described is particularly adapted for employment with the power driven key-ve calculator shown on the drawings and described in co-pending application filed by this applicant, Joseph A. V; 'Iurck. Serial No. 364,913 on May22, 1527 for improvements in Calculating machines; and while the invention will hereinafter be more particularly described as embodied in mechanism particularly adapted to the accomplishment of the foregoing described results to insure against error and protection of the power means in calcuiating machines therein shown and described, it will be readily apparent that it has other and more general application and use.

In the earlier filed ap lication of this applicant. Serial No. 364,973 flied May 22, 1929, error control devices are described and claimed which protect against continued operation of its calcuiating machine after-inadeq ate or insidlicient tion has occurred in the accumulator Protectionofthissortminstkeymanlpulationis desirable. and perhaps essential in a commercial power driven key-responsive calculating machine and this invention has for one of'its objects the employment -of the mechanism provided to insureagainstsuchmismanipulationofthekeys or other manipulative devices to insure against operation of the calculator while the power meansisidleoruntilithasreacheda mined safe speed of rotation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of and devices in calculating machines of the character described, of simple conpredeter- I struction and eilective operation, which will not require frequent repair. readJustment or replacement, for insuring against operation of the calcuiating machine whilethe power is shut oil and against operation when and while predetermined speed or other power movement is below pres-- determined rate.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from tbefollowlng description, which. when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, embodiment thereor.

Referring to the drawings. I

Figure 1 is a partial front-to-back sectional view through a power driven key-responsivecalcuiating machine the tion:

Hg. 2 is a perspectiveview of the locking mechanism embodying the instant invention and associated parts;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken addiscloses a preferred 2 instant inveniacent the release devices provided to permitoperation ofthecalculating machineembodyingthe present invention after the power means (electric motor) has started and attained desired rotation:

and

l'ig.4.isasideelevation,partsbeing shownin section of the motor governor controlling operation of such release devices.

l'lg.iiisanenlarged fragmentarydetailofa portion of the error control The calculating machine shown on the-draw- 4 for each numerical order of the machine.--Associated with each series of keys is an order of accumulator mechanism generally indicated by pinion I! adapted for actuation byracks II of a column actuating individualised to the amciatedsseries otkeys. yarticular construction of the accumulator mechanism and its actuationbytbebeys iiisnot believed several orders, and the control'of their movements preferably is that described in co-pending ap lito a full understanding of the present invention. the numerical value of the key depressed, its

It is however mentioned that the pinion l2 associated with each ordinal'series of .keys through proper gearing imparts adding or accumulative movement to the accumulating mechanism in accordance withdepression of the particular key of the series II, and of course usual or preferred carrying mechanism is provided between the several orders of accumulator mechanism. The accumulator mechanism, the devices constituting its cation of this applicant Serial No. 364,974 file in the United States Patent Office on May 22, 1929, forimprovements in Key responsive calculating machines; W

Generally described, it may be said that adding or calculating movement is imparted to the accumulator of each order through pinion l2 which forms a part of it by the rack 13 which is carried by a triangular lever ll loosely pivoted upon a shaft l5 extending through the frame plates l6 arranged between adiacentorders of the machine. Reference character ll indicates a friction clutchwhich connects an arm I! pivoted at i! to a reciprocating link 20.

The rack I3 is normally arranged in the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings and on each depression of a key of its series of keys a hook 2| is adapted to be lowered into engagement with a toothed wheel 22 iixed upon a shaft 28 which is constantly rotated from an electric motor 2! through gearing not shown on the drawings but fully described in my co-pending application. Various devices which need not be here described but which are fully explained in said co-pending application, accomplish engagement of the hook 2| with the toothed wheel 22 throughout a prey determined arc of revolution to impart a downward movement or throw ofthe rack II into a position determined by theparticular key depressed for imparting calculating or additive movement to the-accumulator. Engagement between the toothed wheel 22 and the hook 2| continues throughout a fixed arc of movement for all adding movements of the machine, downward movement of the rack being determined bythe particular key of the series depressed and the remainder of the power stroke being absorbed or permitted by frictional slippage in the clutch ll.

Immediately upon release of the hook 2| by the toothed wheel 22 a spring 25, fast at one end at 28 to the frame of-the machine and at the other to a lever 2'l which is movable with the link 22, returns the column actuating mechanism to normal position and in such movement the rack l3 imparts an'accumulative rotation to the pinion, l2.

To accomplish an adding or calculating operation, the appropriate key of the series of keys H is depressed and its stem 3| in its downward thrust engages and moves down a bar 32 pivoted at 33 and 34 to levers I5 and 36, in turn pivotally carried upon cross rods or shafts 31 which extend across the several orders of the calculator and have pivotal movement in the frame plates It. An arm 38, carried by a member'of the clutch l1 and rigid with the lever I4, is connected by a link- 39 withthebarflatll.

Upon initial downward movement of the bar 22 the hook 2| isreleased by its restraining devices,

ment with the ratchet 22.

chine with an upwardly extending arm 62.

The rack I3 is permitted to move downwardly only an amount determined by movement being halted by engagement of diifer- 'entially arrangedstop'lugs 42 of a control bar 42 .lug further downward movement of the bar Ills halted and the rack It raised in set posi-, tion, from which position the parts are returned to normal position through the power stored in the spring 25 as soon as the hook 2| has completed its movement resulting from its engage- I Asln my co-pending application Serial No. 364,973, mechanism is provided to prevent operation of the manipulative devices (depression of the keys) after an insuflicient key stroke and also until full up movement of a depressed key 1 has occurred. This mechanism will generally hereinafter be referred to as error control devices and means and comprises a'shaft 5| extending across the machine and provided at each order of ordinal mechanism with a pivoted locking member 52 having a lip 53 adapted to swing under a shoulder or projection 54 on the rear end of the companion bar 82 to prevent its downward movement as the result of efiort to depress any of the keys of its series. A spring 55 is associated with each lock 52 and normally urges it into locking position.

The locks 52 are held normally in retracted or inoperative position by leaves or projections 56 mounted upon and rotatable with an error lock retainer bar 51 mounted for oscillation in the frame of the calculator. These parts are held in this position by a trigger 52 fixed upon and extending down below the error lock retainer bar 51 which in turn is normally in engagement with an arm or projection 59 fixed upona touch-0t! rod or shaft 6| which extends across the calculator and is provided at each order of the ma- A spring 88 fast at 64 to an arm 65 fixed on the touch-oi! rod Bl normally holds the arm 62 in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Upon incomplete key stroke or upon premature rede- -pression of a key mechanism is provided which will now be described to engage theparticular arm 62 of the order in which mis-manipulation hasoccurred to rotate the shaft or bar 6| in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 2, to

move the arm 59 out of engagement with trigger 50, such movement resulting in release of the error lock retainer bar 51 and permitting springs 55 to move the locks 52 underneath their companion bars 32 to prevent subsequent manipuiation of the calculator.

i As in my co-pending application Serial No. 364,973, the locking is immediately accomplished in all orders of the calculator except that in which the error has occurred. The reason the locking of the series of keys mis-manipulated is not accomplished is because the bar 32 of the particular order affected is "-t the moment arranged to depress its shoulder 54 in advance of and below the end it and its associated lock 52 and remains in such position until correction of the error, whereupon its series of keys isalso immediately locked against subsequent manipulation.

In the operation of the calculating machine illustrated onthe drawings as embodying the instant invention, misemanipulation of a key, which wardiy. A latch ordog 88 ispivoted at 85a on bar 'II. A spring 86b normally presses a lip 860 of latch 86 up into contact with the loweredge of bar II. A ratchet tooth 85 is provided upon a ratchet member 80 arranged upon the. upper end of a lever 14. The lever 14 is pivoted at T in a bracket I2 which in turnis pivoted on a cross rod 13 arranged'through the side plates I8. A spring 82 is attached at 82a to the lever 74 and to a lip 20I upon a lever 202 pivoted upon a cross-.

rod 208. Upon depression of one of the keys II the bar H is moved. toward the front of the machi-ne, i. e. toward the right (viewing Fig. l) and the latch 88being carried by it moves with it and pastthe-ratchet tooth 85.

to return the parts to their original position without accomplishing the calculating operation. In

the touch-off rod or shaft 8|. The spring82, ear-. -lier described, tends to swing lever 14 to the'right order to advise the; operator that an incomplete key stroke has been made and to insure redepres 'sion of the particular key in necessary amount,

' tice to the operator of an insufliclent or incomplate key stroke.

A link 18 is pivoted at 11 to the upper end of the lever 14 and to a downwardly extending arm 18 which may be oscillated about a pivotal mounting 18 on an adjacent frame member. At the rear the link I6 is provided with a lip 8| arranged in registration with the companion arm 62 fixedon viewing Fig. 1, and tobring a detent 83 into. contact with a. stop 84 to 'limitrforward movement of the lever 14. If insufficient downstroke of a I I the lock 580i the column affected moves to locked key occurs, latch 88 engages tooth 85 and through lever 14 moves link'ili rearwardly with bar II un-.

til lip 8| engages arm 82rocking shaft 8| to lower its'arm 59 out of engagement with the trigger to release locks {8, looking all orders of the machine.

1 except that in which the .insuflici'ent key stroke has occurred.- Correction of the error by the com- 0 plate and proper depression of the key permits the parts to return to normal position, whereupon position and the complete locking of the keyboard is accomplished.

Means are provided for moving the ratchet tooth as out of thepath of the latch as if and when full key stroke is accomplished. Eachbracket I2 is provided with a downwardly extending am 205 which extends across the .path of 9.- lug 208 upon the link 28.' As the parts near the end of the power stroke, the lug 208 engages thearm 205 of bracket I2 and lifts the bracket about its pivot 18 carrying up'the lever 14 to raise the ratchet tooth 85- above the lower edge of the bar II and out of the way of the latch 88. The lever |4 has a portion 201 which is adapted to engage above a shoulder 208 on the lever 202 when the lever 14 is lifted by lug 288. This lever is held in this upper latched. position until near the end together by a screw '96 for attachment.

tacts 99 and IN.

of the return stroke when a lug 208 on the bar II engages the upper end of the lever 202 to'disconnect it from the shoulder 201, arranging theparts for the next calculating operation. A forwardly.

. extending lug 2I I is provided on the bracket 12: 5.

for engagement with a rod 2 I2 to limit downward movement under the pull of the spring 82 when I the parts are moving from one position to another. To prevent miscalculation from redepression ofa key-before the adding operation of a previous stroke is completed, a number of ratchet teeth 81 are arranged onthe ratchet member 00.and in position to be engaged and locked by a latch 88 pivoted at 880. on the bar I I as this. bar and the key depressed return to normal. A spring 88b normally presses a lip 880 of latch 88 downwardly into contact with the upper edge of bar I I After full depression of the key, the lever I4 is lifted and effort to depress the key before the adding. movement is completed will cause engagement by 20 the latch 88 with one or the other of the teeth 81 since during the return or adding motion of the bar -H the lever 14 is held in raised position by the lever 202 and is adapted for engagement by the latch 88 if the depression of a key ends or attempts to move the bar II in'the reverse direction, i. 12., upon a new adding actuation.

As has been earlier explained, adding and calculating movements in the instant embodiment of the invention are accomplished by the storing of power in the spring 25 through engagement of the hook 2| with the ratchet 22, which continuously I rotated from the motor 24.

The invention contemplates prevention of key manipulation which might throw undue load upinvention also contemplates prevention of key of the invention illustrated upon the drawings.'

prevention of key manipulation, until the motor has reached and only while the motor is operating at desired speed,. is accomplished through a control of the locks 53 already described. A centrifugal governor 8| actuated by the armature shaft 92 is arranged to engage a 'bell crank lever, pivoted at 93 and composed of the arms 94 and 95, both pivoted upon the shaft !3 and connected Thisbell crank lever is provided with a part Q'I'which is arranged beneath an arm 98 carrying a contact 98 which engages a contact I0l adjustably mounted .at I02 for supplyingcurrent to the motor 24 under the control of the governor 9|. Rotation of the armature at greater than predetermined speed interrupts delivery of current by separation of con- A spring I03 is provided to maintain contacts 00 and I 0| in engagement upon starting of the motor and until the armature rotates at a speed greater than that desired. 05

themotor 24 is idle or is rotating at insufflclent apeedtocause the governor to move thehook I22 of'the arm I25 into pofltion to permit release of the locks 22. The parts themselves, accordingly are automatically arranged to prevent operation of theaccumulator mechanism, the manipulative devices or keys being rendered inoperable when themotor is idle and until it attains a predetermined speed of rotation and through the govemor control rotation of speed below predeterminimum speed.

ning speed.

mined rotation per minute automatically'results in the locking of the keys against manipulation.

Means are provided to release the locks 52 to permit operation of the calculator. Such means include a push button I2I arranged at'the side of the machine and adapted to depress a lever I22 pivoted at I22 in the frame of the machine, The lever l22 is connected to a link I24 for accomplishing zeroizing in the known or preferred manner. v

A pawl or dog I25 is pivoted at I26 onlever I22 and is provided with a tooth I21 adapted for engagement with a projection I22 fixed on the error lock retainer bar 51 after or when the motor has attained or is-running atdesired predetermined down by depression of the button I2I rocks the error lock retainer bar 51 to lift theleaves 58 and release the locks. when, however, the motor is idle or is running atless than the predetermined desired minimum speed the dog I25 is automatically arranged out of operative position. A-spring I22 is provided to normally urge the dog I25 into position to engage the projection A'tail I2I, cm'ved generally about the center of shaft 51 is arranged beneath a finger I22 of a lever l22 pivoted at I24 and I35 on shaftl. The lever I22 is provided with a downwardly extending arm I22 arranged in front of a pin I21 at the upper end of an arm I22 pivoted upon a cross-shaft I22.- The arm I22 is arranged in the direct path of movement of the arm I25 of governor lever 24 and a spring I is attached to the lever I22 at I42 to cause the arm I22 to press continually against the lever 24.

The arm I22 is thrust'in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 2, as the motor attains desired run- Until such action occurs the finger I22 holds the dog I25 swung to a position-where depression of the key I2I will cause it to clear the projection I22 on shaft 51 and fail to release the locks 52. Accordingly the machine cannot be freed of the locks to accomplish calculating movement until the motor is running at desired.

speed.

The zeroizing or clearing of the calculator is accompanied by movement toward the right (viewing Fig. 2) of the link I24 and companion rocking of the lever I22. If the motor be rotating at or above predetermined minimum speed, the tooth I21 of the dog I25 engages the projection I22 of the error lock retainer bar 51 with consequent release of the error control locks. Ii,

Engagement of the tooth I21 with theprojection I22 as the lever I22 is moved ing merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a power driven calculatonthe combination of multiple order key-responsive accumulator mechanism, power means for accomplishing accumulator movements of said accumulator mechanism, manipulative devices arranged in a plurality of orders for determining the accumulating movements in the performing of calculation, and means individual to each order for rendering said manipulative devices inoperative except when said power means is in motion.

2. In a power driven calculator, the combination of multiple order key-responsive accumu-i lator mechanism, power means for accomplishing accumulator movements of said accumulator mechanism, manipulative devices arranged ina pluralityof orders for determining the accumu lating movements in the performing of calculation, and means individual to each order for rendering said manipulative devices inoperable except when said power means is in motion.

3. In a power driven calculator, the combination of multiple order key-responsive accumulator mechanism, power means for accomplishing accumulator movements of said accumulator mechanism, manipulative devices arranged in a a plurality of orders for determining the accumulating movements in the performing of calculation, and means individual to each order for rendering said manipulative devices inoperative except'when said power means is moving in excess of the predetermined minimum speed.

4. In a power driven calculator, the combination of multiple order key-responsive accumulator mechanism, power means for accomplish-- ing accumulator movements of said accumulator mechanism, manipulative devices arranged in a plurality of orders for determining the accumulating movements in the performingof calculation, and means individual to each order for normally preventing accumulating movements and rendered inoperative by said power means.

6. In a power driven calculator, the combination of multiple order key-responsive accumu lator mechanism, power means for accomplishing accumulator movements of said accumulator mechanism, manipulative devices arranged in a plurality of orders for determining the accumulating movements in the performing of calcula-, tion, means individual to each order for locking said manipulative devices inoperative under predetermined conditions of the calculator, and means operable by said power means for ren- I lation, a multiple series oi ordinal depressible dering the means first above-mentioned inoperative.

'7. In a power driven calculator, the combination of accumulator mechanism, power means for imparting accumulating movement to said accumulator mechanism in calculation, manipulative devices for controlling extent oi! accumulating movement, means locking said manipulative devices against action in the event of mismanipulation, and means actuating said locking means upon interruption 01 power to said power member.

8. In a power driven calculator, the combination 0! accumulator mechanism, power means for imparting accumulating movement to said accumulator mechanism in calculation, manipulative devices for controlling extent or accumulating movement, and locking mechanism for said manipulative devices and associated devices moving said locking mechanism into locking operative position upon mismanipulation of said manipulating devices and upon interruption of power to said power means.

9. In a power driven calculator, the combination 01' accumulator mechanism, power means ior'actuating said accumulator mechanism, manipulative devices for controlling the degrees or actuation of said accumulator mechanism, lock: ing devices for rendering said manipulative devices inoperative, means i'or actuating saidloclring devices upon mismanipulation or said manipulative devices, and means connected with sad power means for actuating said locking devices upon interruption of operation of said power means.

10. In a power driven calculator, the combination of accumulator mechanism, power means for actuating said accumulator mechanism, manipulative devices for controlling the degrees or actuation of said accumulator mechanism, locking devices for rendering said manipulative devices inoperative, means ior actuating said locking devices upon mismanipulation of said manipulative devices, and means connectedto said power means ior actuating said locking devices until said. power means has attained predetermined rotative movement.

11. In a calculator, the combination of accumulator mechanism, power means for imparting power to said accumulator mechanism in calcukeys for controlling accumulating movements of said accumulator mechanism, locking mechanism for said series of'k eys, and means for automatically tripping and setting said locking mechanism upon the interruption of power to said power means. I

12. In a power driven calculator, the combination 01' multiple order key-responsive accumulator mechanism, power means for imparting accumulating movements to said accumulator mechanism in calculation, manually manipulative devices arranged in a plurality of orders i'or instigating and controlling accumulating movements of said accumulator mechanism, and an idle lock mechanism for preventing accumulator operation of said manipulative devices, comprising a governor actuated in accordance with the speed of said power means, and lochng devices individual to each order for preventing manipulation of said manipulative devices. I

13. In a power driven calculator, the combination 01' accumulator mechanism, power means for imparting accumulating movement to said accumulator mechanism in calculation, manipulative devices for controlling the accumulating movements 01 said accumulator, error control devices for preventing movement oi said accumulator mechanism upon mis-manipulation of said manipulative devices, and a governor associated s with said power means for actuating said error control devices to prevent movement of said accumulator mechanism when said power means is operating below predetermined speed. I

14. In a power driven calculator, the combina- 10 tion of accumulator mechanism, power mearm for imparting accumulating movement to said accumulator mechanism in calculation, manipulative devices for controlling the accumulating movements of said accumulator mechanism, error 16 control devices for preventing movement 01' said accumulator mechanism upon mismanipulation of said manipulative devices, a manually operable release i'or said error control devices, and means controlled by said power means forum 00 dering said release inoperative when said power means is moving below predetermined speed.

15. In a power driven calculator, the combination of accumulator mechanism, power means for imparting accumulating movement to said ac- 25 cumulator mechanism in calculation, manipulative devices for controlling .the accumulating movements of said accumulator mechanism, error control. devices for preventing movement of said accumulator mechanism upon mismanipulation of said manipulative'devices, zeroining mechanism for said accumulator mechanism adapted normally to release said error control devices at a zeroizing operation, and means governedby said power means for preventing release of said error control devices by said zeroizing mechanism when said power means is moving below predetermined minimum speed.

16. In a power-driven key-responsive calculating machine, the combination of accumulator 40 mechanism, power means for actuating said accumulator mechanism, manipulative devices arranged in a plurality of orders for controlling the degrees 01' actuation 01 said accumulator mechanism, locking devices individual to each ll "order for rendering said manipulative devices inoperative, and means controlled by said power means for actuating saidlocking devices upon interruption of operation oi said power means.

17. In a power-driven key-responsive calcu- 60 lating machine, the combination of accumulator mechanism, power means for actuating said accumulator mechanism, manipulative devices arranged in a plurality of orders for controlling the degrees of actuation of said accumulator 66 mechanism, locking devices individual toeach order tor rendering said manipulative devices inoperative, and means controlled by said power means for actuating said locking devices until said power means has attained predetermined 00 rotative movement.

18. In a power-driven key-responsive calculating machine, the combination of accumulator mechanism, power means for actuating said accumulator mechanism, manipulative devices ar- 05 ranged in a plurality of orders i'or controlling the degrees, of actuation of said accumulator mechanism. locking devicesindividual to each order for rendering said manipulative devices inoperative, and means controlled by said power 70 coslenavnroncx. rs 

